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Monday, January 5, 2009

New York, April 12 [1862]

The N. Y. Time’s special Washington dispatch says Mr. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, returned from Fortress Monroe yesterday. He has been in that vicinity for the past five days, expecting to witness the destruction of the Merrimac, if she ventured out from under the shelter of the Craney Island rebel batteries, where she lay up to 10 ½ o’clock, yesterday morning. In her present position, she controls the mouth of James River and will choose to remain there at present, to prevent our gunboats from going up that river to shell the right wing of the enemy, now powerfully fortified on the east back of the Warwick river, near its mouth.

A gentleman who left Fortress Monroe and the army of the Potomac yesterday asserts that our troops are in the best of spirits. In consequence of the storm, much delay has been occasioned. It is known reliably that, a short time since, Gloucester Point, directly opposite Yorktown, was strongly fortified. The river there is not over three quarters of a mile wide, and the rebel batteries would have fair play at any boats attempting to get near Yorktown.

The country between the James and York rivers, known as the peninsula, and lying between Yorktown and Richmond, is of a soft, marshy character, and during rainy weather it would be almost impossible to move artillery. It can well be imagined, therefore, the difficulties with which Gen. McClellan has to contend at this moment.

Gen. Rosecrans reported to the Secretary of War to-day, and has received his orders and will leave the city to-morrow.

Secretary Chase has left the city to be absent two days, and assistant Secretary Harrington is acting Secretary of the Treasury.

The immense fleet of transports now lying at anchor off Alexandria, having been chartered by the Government to convey troops and army material, not being longer desired by the Government, will be returned to the owners of said vessels, thus relieving the people of an enormous daily expense.

A rebel was captured yesterday, by some of Gen. Bank’s men. Upon his person was found a bowie knife belonging to one of our privates, who, with the others was missed a few days since, and doubtless was either taken prisoner or shot.

The mountains are covered with snow to the depth of several inches.

The Herald’s dispatch says: The cavalry of Gen. Banks occupied Warrenton yesterday, the rebels abandoning the place without firing a gun. Few of the inhabitants remain. The country is exceedingly beautiful, the wheat being several inches high, and the grass considerably advanced in growth.


OFFICIAL WAR BULLETIN
WAR DEP’T, WASHINGTON, April 11.

The Secretary of War makes public acknowledgement to the Governors of Indiana, Ohio, and the Board of Trade of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for their prompt offers of assistance for the relief of the officers and soldiers wounded in the late great battle on the Tennessee river.

Their offers have been accepted. It is understood that similar humane and patriotic service has been tendered by other cities and State authorities, and which have not been reported to the Department, but are thankfully acknowledged.

EDWIN M. STANTON, Sec’y of War.


WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, April 11, 1862

Grave complaints against Assistant Surgeons Hewitt and Stipp having reached the Department, they are suspended from duty, and ordered to report themselves. A negligent or inhuman surgeon is regarded by this Department as an enemy of his country and of his race, and will be dealt with according to the utmost rigor of military law.

E. M. STANTON, Sec’y of War.

– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Tuesday, April 15, 1862 & also in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862

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